Alexandra Champalimaud was born and raised in Portugal. She received her early education in Switzerland and England. After that the designer completed her design training at the Espirito Santo Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal which is one of the worlds’ last remaining colleges teaching the tradition of European arts, crafts and techniques of historic preservation and restoration.

Alexandra brings a dynamic intellectual curiosity and an absence of pretense to her work. Drawing upon a wealth of personal experiences and professional commissions throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, her work is known for subtle references unique to her multi-faceted vantage point. With a unique talent for the application of color, pattern, texture and a seasoned understanding of the foundations and principals of classic design, Alexandra remains an uncompromising aesthetic respectful of the needs of her clients and the time place and cultural context of each project. Her New York-based firm Champalimaud is highly regarded for its residential and hospitality interiors work.The owner is grace and innovation personified.

There are three projects that come to mind as the most iconic projects. Alexandra Champalimaud and her team created in Taos, NM; cool office space in New York City, which was just completed the renovations at the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles.

Right now the firm is working on a particularly wonderful place—the highest of high-end residential that’s extremely sexy, on the top of the peak in Hong Kong. After that they have a wonderful residential property on the water in Miami, the lobby of which is really fun. It’s very modern, however, it has an enormous soul and speaks to the enduring relevance of those great, original art deco Miami buildings.

DELTA TORONTO

The third great project is a beautiful private boutique hotel projectin Nassau, on top of a hill. It feels like a contemporary, modern plantation. Meanwhile, in Bath in the U.K.,a 19th-century hospital is converted into the Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel with reclaimed Roman ruins. It features a one-of-a kind spa with therapeutic pools and singular access to the local healing mineral waters.

There were also finished a few residences—one on Park Avenue, another beautiful, turn-of-the-century house in Denver, an incredible from-scratch hybrid club-hotel on West 44thStreet in New York, the lobby of the Verizon building on the west side of Manhattan, and renovations to the public spaces in the New York Palace hotel.

The office of Alexandra Champalimaud has incredible energy, because people are actually happy. It’s work, of course, but all the team are elevating their lives every day through the world they do. Alexandra herself is always looking to hold a positive attitude, which goes hand in hand with a sense of survival. What is more, she likes to surround herself with people of diverse backgrounds, who are culturally sensitive, and naturally artistic and creative. This mix creates a stimulating work environment where everyone has something different and important to share. The designeris present in the office every week because of the wish to be deeply involved in every project and closely connected with designers on the creative journey.